sea / lake

The various Greek, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin and Hebrew terms that are translated as “sea,” “ocean,” or “lake” in English are all translated in Chichewa with one term: nyanja. Malawi, where Chichewa is spoken, has a lot of lakes but does not share a border with the ocean (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation). Likewise, in Toposa all the different bodies of water are all called by one term as well: nya-name̥ (source: Schröder 2026, p. 101).

In Malagasy culture, the sea is perceived as sacred because it was a path taken by the ancestors. That is why the Malagasy word for the “sea” is ranomasina, which literally means “the sacred water.” The word masina actually has two different meanings: “salted” and “sacred/holy.” Salt is used for the conservation of some foods, such as meat or fish, that are to be set aside for later use. In this sense, the Malagasy phrase for “Holy Spirit” has the literal meaning of “Salted Spirit.” (Source: Brigitte Rabarijaona in The Bible Translator 2022, p. 103ff.)

“Sea” (or: “ocean”) is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “water land” and in Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac as “very big lake.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

complete verse (Numbers 33:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 33:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “They left Elim and went to set up their tents near the Red Sea.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “From Elim they went and camped alongside the Red Sea.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “From Elim they camped beside the Red Sea.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then they/we left Elim and went to the area near the Red Sea and set up their/our tents there.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 33:10

And they set out from Elim: Compare Exo 16.1. Good News Translation starts a new paragraph here. There is no particular reason to do this, except that verse 9 interrupts the list of camping places with some more information about Elim. Translations who follow this model may need to make explicit that the pronoun they refers to the Israelites.

And encamped by the Red Sea: For Red Sea, which is literally “Sea of Reeds” (New Revised Standard Version footnote, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, La Biblia: Traducción en Lenguaje Actual, Bijbel in Gewone Taal, Willibrordvertaling), see the comments on 14.25. Good News Translation says “Gulf of Suez,” which may be geographically accurate, but it sounds anachronistic and takes the reader away from the notion that the text still refers to the sea through which the Israelites passed miraculously.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .